Blind Horses?

[darbyponygirl]

WE got a blind horse as a companion and heis pacing the pasture and won't get near the water bucket nor will he go in the shed. The horse he is a companion wiht should help him he is like a father figure to him (well supposed to be) and he has no interest or want to be with him or help him what should i do. We tryed leading him to the water but he wouldn't take a sid other then out of our hand.

[tinypony]

welll usually, horses that are blind take a MUCH longer time to settle into new surroundings. if this horse went blind at the old facility it probably wasn't a horrible transition, he already knew where things like the water bucket and shed were. also, he trusted the other horse to lead him there because the other horse was comfortable in the surroundings as well. at a new place, this new horse will have to figure out where things such as water and fencing is. once he can rely on his companion things will be much easier as well. the companion horse may not be completely settled in yet either and because the blind horse can sense this, he probably isn't as trusting of his buddy as he used to be. give it time and i'm sure they'll both settle in just fine :-)

[bndranch]

I don't know the size of the area he is in but if you can take some panels and make it smaller. By what I have seen they will use the fence to guide them if they don't have a buddy. Then as he figures that out slowly make his area a little bigger. IF his buddy is sweet and nice try putting them together, however if the other horse is showing any signs of aggression that is NOT a good thing.
My parents just got a blind appy mare she still has vision in her right eye. But they pastured her with their 30yr old appy mare and they get along GREAT! Being totally blind it will take some time but if you can make it smaller I think that would help ALOT.

[darbyponygirl]

Thank you for that information will try that.

[wisteriafarms]

How is he doing now?

[patty dukes]

I talked to a guy that traveled a long way to buy a horse. He, his wife and kids all rode this horse in the round pen before they bought him. They got him home and his kid was the first one that rode him. Right into a CAR!!!! He said this horse was blind. They didn't know because he was in the round pen when they bought him. I thought that was pretty bad that they bought a blind horse not knowing he was blind but the saddest thing is this man said now what am I going to do with a blind horse. He didn't want him. I didn't get his name or number. We were at an outdoor flea market. There was a man up there that had 4 horses for sale and I was over there checking out the horses when this mans wife was trying to sell his horses.
I thought it was a bit weird that the man that was selling the horses had 2 mares 1 yearling and a mini. He said the mares were kid broke. One mare had shoes on and the one that didn't had an injury to her back leg. I don't know if this man gave them a shot to make them be so calm but something seemed funny. I said that I was going to sell my mare when her baby gets weaned. He asked me about her and said that he would trade me one of those "kid broke" mares for my mare. That was funny to me because I just told him my mare isn't a kids horse and you have to be an experienced rider to get on her I told him she doesn't really like ppl much. Now why would he say that he would trade me a "kid broke" horse for my mare. I don't understand that. I have learned the hard way about horse traders. They will tell you anything to pass the horse along. Why can't ppl be honest. It's not like the person that buys the horse isn't going to know when they get the horse home. Just like the man that bought the blind horse.
I think it is SAD that now he doesn't want the horse. I should have asked him more about it but I had my husband and kids waiting out in the heat for me.
I understand that the man was very mad about that but it isn't the horses fault he is blind.
I can see where he may not have the time to work with a blind horse but he should find someone that will.

[darbyponygirl]

yeah that is so sad he is doing TERRIFIC now!!! I love the blind ones so interesting he was ridden by his owner yesterday and he was awesome it was so cool to watch

[wisteriafarms]

I'm glad he is doing good now .
I know of a guy who has two horses, one is completely blind and the other is purely a pasture mate to make the other feel secure. He can't ride the sighted horse, but rides the blind horse all the time bareback with no bridle or even a halter. He lightly touches her on either side of her neck to turn her and the farther up he touches her the sharper she turns.
It's really something else to see...the bond and the trust and the level of communication between them.

[darbyponygirl]

that is really interesting how cool